Description:

Developing a Toolkit for Recruitment and Retention in Population Studies with Mercedes Carnethon, Ph.D, FAHA

A growing challenge in population and clinical studies is recruiting and retaining participants in research studies. Whereas recruitment for many of our foundational cardiovascular disease cohort studies was carried out using population sampling approaches that required sampling from a population register (e.g., drivers’ license lists) and calling participants to invite them, changes in communication preferences, availability of telephones and privacy concerns require contemporary innovations to identify, recruit and enroll study participants. These challenges are particularly salient when recruiting younger adults (e.g., 18-30 year olds) and populations who have traditionally been underrepresented in research studies (e.g., race/ethnic minorities, low socioeconomic status). I am interesting in leading a discussion about the aims of a potential research study that would be designed to speak to samples from the population to identify barriers to participation in research studies and to identify strategies that would appeal to particular target populations. The ultimate “deliverable” from this study would be a toolkit for recruitment and retention to population studies. The seminar will begin with a brief introduction of the problem, but then be largely discussion-based focused on identifying funding mechanisms and research strategies.